1. Narrative of Project
The city of Pittsburgh has a reputation for many of things from its rivers to its
teams, this including a reputation for the city’s “dirty” past. The city has been known for
its steel industry, being a large player in such an industry had its positives and its
negatives; having great economic production and wealth, but also the environmental
damages that helped shape Pittsburgh into what it is today.
Today a new era of an environmental movement is occurring; awareness of
environmental issues and concerns surround us. We as humans are always trying to be
healthier doing better things for our bodies, our families, and occasionally the people and
environment that surrounds us. Pittsburgh’s population is around 307,532 individuals
with a population density of 5,271 people per square mile (Local Niche, Web).
Throughout Pittsburgh there are many small group and organizations that has attempted a
community-supported agriculture system, but none have made a “big splash” in the city.
The present issue at hand is simply that the people of Pittsburgh do not possess somewhat
large-scale community-supported agricultural greenhouses. One might ask why the city
would even consider such a thing? It’s simple; if the city were to support such a project
they may receive benefits as well. Benefits such as a better local economy, greater
understanding of localism, shorter supply chain, a healthier environment the benefits
continue; the city is changing, we as the human race are changing, our environments are
changing and I say it is better if we move with it.
The main goal of the Community Conservancy project is to offer a better eating
and grocery-shopping alternative that is extremely affordable when it comes to fruits and
vegetables. Opening opportunities to the city folk of Pittsburgh to go to a greenhouse 0-
15 miles away from their houses and shop for fruits and vegetables for little to nothing.
Essentially dissolving food deserts, if present in the city of Pittsburgh; on account that the
city has almost double the national poverty rate as well as low median household income
(Local Niche, Web) would support food deserts. The project would give low-income
families and neighborhoods an opportunity to recreate themselves, come together, do
better and eat better things without the worry of money or financial status. Sub-goals of
the organization would be that of education. Educate people of all ages on topics such as
botany, environmental awareness, plant care (gardening), and so on. The plan is to place

2. these greenhouses in convenient neighborhoods through out the city; twelve greenhouses
each 15’ 13”X 25’ are each equipped with an assortment of vegetables and fruits which
will be used at the disposal of the communities which encompass them. A number of
angiosperms will be present to assist with pollination of perhaps some of the present plant
species in the greenhouse. The greenhouse will be staffed with members of the non-profit
that developed this project; paid members which have experience and qualifications, non-
paid inters, and volunteers from the community
The overall objective is to help the people in the city of Pittsburgh receive proper
vegetables and fruits at little to no cost. We have partnered up with the City Parks
program in Pittsburgh, Phipps Conservatory (located in Pittsburgh), Pittsburgh Public
Schools (PPS) as well as the University of Pittsburgh for support in reaching our projects
goals. In order to bring the people of the communities to the greenhouses we intend on
starting to make guest visiting to a number of PPS, this way we are capable of informing
the youth where they are able to inform their parents and so on. Hours of service will be
implemented for greenhouse “picking” which will be when members of the communities
are welcome to come and purchase fruits and vegetables of their liking. Seasonal
vegetables and fruits will be offered according to said season in order to add variety.
Some days will be teaching days at the greenhouses things such as school field
trips, botany of: fruits, vegetables and angiosperms, environmental awareness days, and a
family gardening day are implemented to help get members of the communities involved.
All of which will be free of charge (perhaps payment of groups larger than 10 or 15). The
main focus is to provide for the communities, and in order for us to get people there I
believe it is wise to get them engaged. Our organization would like to start greenhouse
construction preferably by the end of January, so that by the summer we could get some
growth of our fruits and vegetables, including seasonal ones, to help provide for as well
as begin community activity.
The arrangement of these twelve greenhouses (Perry Hill Top, Troy Hill,
Manchester, Mt. Washington, Southside Flats, Hill District, Hazelwood, SQ. Hill, Shady
Side, Homewood, Morningside, and Lawrenceville) throughout the city has been
strategic. The majority of the greenhouses are in low-income neighborhoods this being
the case it assists in the extinction of some food deserts. The method to determine where

3. to place the greenhouse is simple: Where do we believe they would be wanted and
accepted, regions that are in need of them based on income, and whether the given area is
accessible for the surrounding areas. They have also been placed in regions where it is
easily accessible by many people or of people in surrounding areas resolving the present
issue within the city limits of Pittsburgh. This being a new project for the city to adopt it
has a chance to sink, but with local industry/ organization support, community support
and the perseverance of this non-profit organization I believe we will make our mark on
the city and become a successful program.
I write to this foundation, the Pittsburgh Foundations, in hopes that you’ll find an
interest in our project, and what it has to offer the city and the people that live in it. In the
case that we do not receive the grant money requested for the development of this project
we have thought up a number of arrangements in order to make this project feasible in the
future of the city, without the grant money.
Beginning with the absorption into the city’s City Parks program, the program
will likely fund our organizations project in which case the project would be paid for
most likely by tax dollars for citizens, which gives them all the more reason to visit and
participate in greenhouse activities. If absorbed the city would receive a plethora of
benefits such as a healthier environment, more parkland, supports local economy and
localism as well as benefits over time such as shorter supply chains, which also promotes
a better local economy.
Secondly we could perhaps increase the amount being paid for fruits and
vegetables in each greenhouse. The original system being you buy a large reusable bag
from the greenhouse for five dollars, or simple pay five dollars and bring your own
reusable bag from home where you are able to simply fill your bag; in which case we
increase the payment for the produce by individual prices each below a dollar, this
method may show an increase in profit for each greenhouse.
Thirdly we could receive a combined funding from the University of Pittsburgh
and Phipps Conservatory, which should meet the needs of the intended program. In the
case of the third scenario the programs activities may be directed more toward college
student’s involvement and participation in return for the generous funds given by the
university. Phipps Conservatory is also welcome to incorporate their own influence into

4. the project assisting with seasonal organic farming practices taking place outside of the
greenhouse, in a projected fenced in area; this is in return of funding the Community
Conservancy program.
Lastly we could ask Pittsburgh Public Schools (PPS) if they are capable to fund us
by the exchange of produce for funding of the program. We could exchange a number of
produce produced by the greenhouses to improve the health and quality of cafeteria food
in the PPS. This would coincide with the already present “Healthy Program” in the PPS
cafeteria system. The two programs would collectively work towards creating a healthier
and more organic eating option for kid’s ages 5-18 in all K-12 lunches.
For the case in which we do not receive funding we intend on implementing one
or many of these four financial strategies to support our project. By implementing more
than one of these strategies the project may have the capability to expand and grow in
order to fit the needs of many other programs or institutions.